INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13263, 23 August 1906, Page 6

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON DEFEATS SOUTHLAND.

AN EASY VICTORY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington', Wednesday. Nearly 7000 people were drawn to Athletic Pairk this afternoon, when Wellington defeated Southland by 22 points to three. Tlio weather was perfect, and the turf was in excellent order. The spectators included Lord and Lady Plunket and Lady Ward. From a spectacular standpoint, the game was somewhat disappointing, play being very ragged at times. In the first part of the game Southland held the upper hand, its forward brigade playing solidly together, and beating the opposing front rankers for possession. The maroon backs, however, eschewed passing rushes, and were content to find the touch-line. The defence of the local backs was sound, their taking, fielding, and manipulation of the ball being more accurate than could reasonably be expected under the circumstances. The forwards also showed up prominently in the loose, and tackled well. After, changing ends there was only one team in it, a.nd that was Wellington. The forwards, playing with great pace and dash, paralysed the maroons', who were literally run off their feet, and the brunt of the work was in consequence thrown on the visiting backs, who ; gamely endeavoured to check the onslaughts, but failed. The' Wellington scrumming brigade slung the ball out to its backs," but the faulty play of Roberts (inside five-eighths) gave* the latter no chance to open up play sufficiently to bring their scoring powers into requisition, a.nd at least half-a-dozen certain tries were thrown away by the misjudgmetrt of the "All Black" representative. The threequarter line were practically looking for work as a result of Roberts' tactics. The teams were: —

Southland: Fullback. taker ; threequarter backs, Bain. Walker., Hannah y five-eighths. R. Stead, Smith; halfback, Burgess (captain); forwards, Jenkins, Hamilton, Clark, West, Milne, Robinson, Hushes; wing-forward, Gretzewitz. Wellington: Fullback, G. Spencer; threequarters, H. D. Thompson, Ramadan, Wallace ; five-eights, Mitchinson, Roberts ; half, A. M. Thomson; forwards, Watkins, Standen, Wright, Cross, J. Spencer, Manning,, Byrne; wing-forward, Hardhnmi. Soon after tho commencement of play Wellington set up a strong forward rush, headed by Planning, Byrne, and Cross, which bore- down all opposition, and Watkins toed the ball over the mark, but the referee disallowed any «core, and gave a scrum five yards out. The Wellington forwards were not to be denied, however, and though temporarily repulsed as a result of a loose rush on the part of the Southland forwards, set up another attack, which ended in I'aeev (threequarter) getting over the line at the corner. G. Spencer converted : Wellington. 5: Southland, nil. Soon afterwards Hamilton had a shot at goal, but without result. Southland, assisted mainly by its vanguard, now kept up a strenuous attack, and warm work ensued until G. Spencer cleared his line with a serviceable kick. Give- and take play ensued. From a line-out near Wellington's line tho ball was'shot out quickly io Clark, who was unmarked, and the visitor dropped over the line amidst applause. Hamilton failed at goal: Wellington. 5; Southland, 3. The whistle then went for half-time.

When operations were resumed it. was seen that Wellington's scrumming brigade meant business, and a series of determined rushes right up to the Southland goal line eventuated. Roberts picked up from the loose at centre, and passed to Mitchinson, who transferred to Ramsden. The latter passed to Wallace, who got over. The referee, however, gave a knock on. The blacks were now dashing through the opposing ranks, and all the maroons' rushstopping abilities had to be brought into requisition. Wellington had chances of scoring upon several occasions, but failed through the disposition of one or two players to play a lone hand." From a lineout in Southland's territory Watkins threw the hall to Roberts, and it subsequently went through the hands of Mitchinson and Ramsden, the latter touching down. G. Spencer's attempt at converting was unsuccessful: Wellington, 8; Southland. 3. The black forwards were now swarming over their opponents, both in the solid and loose. Ramsden finally picked up smartly and grounded the ball near the goal posts. G. Spencer again failed to improve the score : Wellington, 13; Southland. 3. After the kick out Cross made a big brush up to Southland's line, and after threading his way through half-a-dozen opponents passed to Mitchinson. who scored. G. Spencer again failed to convert: Wellington, 16; Southland, 3. The bla> ks' forwards swarmed down once more on their opponents' line. A lofty kick by G. Spencer saw the bail mulled by two of Southland's rearguard, and A. D. Thomson and Hardham getting off the mark quickly, pounced upon the ball, the winger being successful in canying it over. Wallace goaJ: Wellington, 19; Southland. 3. No sooner had hostilities been resumed than H. D. Thomson centred quickly, and in company with Byrne and Standen bustled Wbitaker. Standen grabbed the leather and passed to Thomson, who grounded the ball behind ilie. posts. Roberts was entrusted with, the kick but. failed: Wellington, 22; Soufhland, 3. The remainder of the play was all in favour of Wellington, whose further efforts at scoring were baffled by indifferent support rendered to the. back ' division by Roberts. <